Transcript

00:00:02

>> The world's longest reigning monarch marks 70 years on the throne, Thailand, on Thursday, celebrating King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Platinum Jubilee. But the King himself isn't expected to attend. The 88-year-old monarch received heart treatment earlier this week and has been in the hospital for more than a year. Reuter's Amy Sawitta Lefevre has been reporting from the streets of Bangkok.

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>> When I went around this morning, a lot of people are wearing yellow, which is the King's color. And it's definitely an outpouring of devotion, an outpouring of celebration for the 70 years on the throne. This morning, there was 717 monks as well, Buddhist monks chanting, and that's considered to be an auspicious number.

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So, a pretty big celebration.>> Worries over the King's health are not openly discussed because of strict laws governing discussion of the royal family and the King, but sources say in private, there's a lot of concern. King Bhumibol is hugely popular. His image dominates public space in Thailand, and is seen by many Thai's as semi-divine.

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>> What this King has done, what King Bhumibol has done is really earn the respect of the Thai people by his work in rural health care, in development,>> He's really earned the admiration of ties. Of course, there has been formidable public relation machine behind the King as well.

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And that has really helped to propel his work into the public lime light.>> But some say the day may also be an uncomfortable reminder about succession. The King's 63 year old son is the era parent, but has not achieved the same level of devotion that his father enjoys.

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>> Analysts say that for most Thai's, the king is seen as a pillar of stability throughout decades of political turmoil.